Package wrapping removal system and method of operating the same

ABSTRACT

A package wrapping removal system and method of operation for removing a wrapping from a product has a first cutter that cuts the wrapping along a first side face of the wrapped product as the product moves along a first transport. A second transport of the system then receives the wrapped product from the first transport. As the wrapped product moves along the second transport, the first cutter and an opposing second cutter cut the wrapping along respective flanking side faces of the product. A vacuum device integrated into the second transport then removes the wrapping as one piece as the unwrapped product continues to move downstream.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 60/761,116, filed on Jan. 23, 2006, and 60/777,834, filed on Mar. 1, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a package wrapping removal system and more particularly to a system for removing shrink wrap from a package.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages and products are known to be wrapped with any of a wide variety of materials including different forms of paper and various plastics. The wrapping material used is generally dictated by the needs of the package or product. The wrapping may serve to simply protect the surface of a product or to support and hold multiple items together as a single package.

One such example of multiple items being held together at least in-part by a wrapping is a plurality of beverage bottles or cans. For instance, the manufacturer of a beverage may ship and/or sell their product in an allotment of twenty-four plastic bottles (i.e. a case). The bottles may be supported in a relatively inexpensive cardboard tray. For improved stacking and transportation of the cases, the bottles along with the tray are typically wrapped in a known shrink wrap material. The shrinking process of the wrap material causes the wrapping to hold tightly against the bottles and trays, thereby generally forming a structurally stable parallelepipedical body.

At times it is desirable to remove the shrink wrap and repackage the product, such as when creating multi-packs of various flavors of the product. Unfortunately, the benefits of the shrink wrap or other wrappings that contribute to structural integrity of a single body having multiple components may also create difficulties in the removal of the wrapping from the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A package wrapping removal system and method of operation for removing wrapping from a work product has a first cutter that cuts a wrapping along a first side face of a the work product as the product moves along a first transport. A second transport of the system is orientated downstream of the first transport. When the product moves along the second transport, the first cutter and an opposing second cutter cut the wrapping along respective flanking side faces of the product.

Objects, features and advantages of the present invention include a highly efficient, quick and reliable means to remove a wrapping from a work product utilizing a system that is relatively inexpensive, robust, reliable and easily integrated into existing manufacturing plants.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of a wrapping removal system embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a first perspective end view of the wrapping removal system;

FIG. 3 is a second perspective end view of the wrapping removal system;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a series of vacuum apertures taken from circle 4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the wrapping removal system with a wrapped product disposed thereon;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the wrapped product;

FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of the wrapping removal system similar to FIG. 1 except detailing a first product with a wrapping removed and a second wrapped product with a wrapping being cut;

FIG. 8 is a perspective side view of the wrapping removal system similar to FIG. 7 except detailing the wrapping of the second product being partially removed from the second product and generally held by vacuum apertures of the system;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a wrapping removal system;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cutter of the second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the cutter; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a wrapping removal system with an overhead moving device of a transport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-6 of the present invention, a package wrapping removal system 20 is illustrated and a method of operating the same shall be described. The system 20 operates to remove wrapping 22 pre-positioned or secured to a product 24 preferably of a parallelepipedical shape. The wrapping 22 may be made of any material commonly used in the art of wrapping packages, but preferably is made of a heat sensitive material such as plastic and/or shrink wrap. As best shown in FIG. 7, the product may be a plurality of beverage containers 26 located in a tray 28 typically made of cardboard. During manufacturing of the beverage, the containers 26 are placed in the tray 28 then the shrink wrap or wrapping 22 is preferably wrapped about the top 30, the bottom 32 and four side faces 33, 35, 37, 39 of the product 24.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 and for the sake of illustration and explanation, one of a wide variety of applications for the system 20 entails a product that includes the manufacture and placement of twenty-four of the containers 26 all filled with the same flavor of beverage. The product or case 24 of like beverages is wrapped in shrink wrap 22 so that the cases 24 are independently sturdy and do not fall apart when transported and stacked upon one another for further processing and/or sale. For retail sale purposes, it is often preferred to provide a variety of beverage flavors in a single case 24. In such instances, the system 20 is ideal for quickly and efficiently removing the shrink wrap 22 so that the containers 26 in the tray 28 of the product 24 can be resorted as a variety of flavors best suited for retail sale.

Although the product 24 may be of any wide variety of shapes, it is preferably cubical and generally square. For illustration purposes, the side faces 33, 35, 37, 39 are broken down as first side face 33, second side face 35, third side face 37 and fourth side face 39. The first side face 33 is generally the leading side face (i.e. where the wrapping 22 is first cut) and is flanked at respective opposite ends by the second and fourth side faces 35, 39.

More specific to the wrapping removal system 20, the system has a first transport 34 that extends along a first centerline 36 and a second transport 38 that extends along a second centerline 40. The transports 34, 38 preferably lie in a common imaginary plane and intersect at a junction 42 so that the first centerline 36 is substantially perpendicular to the second centerline 40. During operation, the wrapped product 24 travels along the first transport 34 in a direction co-extending with the first centerline 36, then the wrapped product 24 changes direction at the junction 42 and travels along the second centerline 40 (i.e. into the page with respect to FIG. 2).

The first transport 34 has a substantially horizontal surface 44 upon which the wrapped product 24 slides or moves and a raised side or elongated stop face 46 that extends longitudinally along and projects laterally upward from the horizontal surface 44. The stop face is substantially parallel to the centerline 36 and is spaced laterally from the centerline 36 by a first distance 48. Similarly, the second transport 38 has a horizontal surface 50 that generally forms contiguously into the horizontal surface 44 of the first transport 38 at the junction 42. The system includes a conveyor 12 which has a first run 14 and a second run 16. Either one or both of the transports 34, 38 may be a belt conveyor or could be formed by a series or rollers or the like. The first transport 34 generally extends the length of the system 20 and the second transport 38 extends from the first transport 34 at about a ninety degree angle.

A first or corner cutter 52 is located generally at the junction 42 or corner formed at the intersection of the first and second transports 34, 38. The first cutter 52 extends at least partially into the first and second transports 34, 38 to cut the wrapping 22 from the wrapped product 24 along two side faces of the wrapped product 24 as the wrapped product moves along both the first and second transports 34, 38. A second cutter 54 is mounted to the second transport 38 and is orientated at an opposite end of the junction 42 substantially diametrically opposed to the corner cutter 52 with respect to the second centerline 40. The second cutter 54 extends at least partially into the second transport 38 for cutting the wrapping 22 from the wrapped product 24 along the third side face 37 of the wrapped product 24. As best shown in FIG. 1, the first cutter 52 is spaced from the first centerline 36 by a second distance 56 that is equal to or slightly less than the first distance 48 for reliable cutting of the wrapping 22 at the first side face 33 of the wrapped product 24. The first and second cutters 52, 54 are equally spaced from the second centerline 40 by respective third and fourth distances 58, 60. Preferably, the sum of the distances 58, 60 is slightly less than the length of the first side face 33 and/or the third side face 37 of the product 24 for reliable cutting of the wrapping 22 along the second and fourth side faces 35, 39. Unlike the first cutter 52, the second cutter 54 may only cut the wrapping 22 at one side face of the wrapped product 24.

To improve cutting efficiency and reliability, and to help maintain the square orientation of the wrapped product 24 when sliding upon the first transport 34, a third cutter 62 is located adjacent to and outward from the first cutter 52 with respect to the second centerline 40 and in parallel with the first cutter 52. The third cutter 62 is between the first cutter 52 and a leading end 64 of the stop 46 (see FIG. 2). Like the first cutter 52, the third cutter 62 is spaced from centerline 36 by the distance 56. Similarly and also for cutting efficiency and reliability, a fourth cutter 66 is located adjacent to and outward from the first cutter 52 with respect to the first centerline 36 but along the second transport 38. A fifth cutter 68 is located adjacent to and outward from the second cutter 54 with respect to the first centerline 36. The fourth cutter 66 is parallel with the first cutter 52 and the fifth cutter 68 is parallel with the second cutter 54 along the second centerline 40.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, all five cutters 52, 54, 62, 66, 68 preferably have a circular cutting disc 70 that tapers radially outward to a continuous circumferential apex 74. The apex 74 generally lies in an imaginary plane that is substantially parallel to and space above the surfaces 44, 50 of the transports 34, 38. This space is preferably adjustable and substantially equal for all the cutting discs and is located where the cutting of the wrapping 22 is least likely to damage the containers 26 of the wrapped product 24. The sharpness of the continuous apex 74 is dependent upon the wrapping material and whether or not the disc 70 is heated for melting the wrapping 22.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, in the surface 50 of the second transport 38 and downstream of the junction 42 are a series of vacuum apertures 96. A vacuum device (not shown) is connected to the apertures 96 preferably under the second transport 38. A disposal mechanism or vacuum collector 98 is disposed above the second transport 38 and supported by framing 100. The disposal mechanism 98 includes a suction hose 102 that drapes downward from the framing 100 and is disposed slightly downstream of the apertures 96.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, 6, and 7-8 and during operation of the system 20, the prepackaged and wrapped product 24 is transported along the first transport 34 as it is biased or pushed against the stop face 46. The transported prepackaged product 24 abuts slightly against the first and third cutters 52, 62 at the first side face 33 of the wrapped product 24. The heated discs 70 of the cutters 52, 56 slide across and melt the shrink wrap 22 along the first side face to, in essence, create a cut 71 in the shrink wrap 22. The prepackaged product 24 then arrives at the junction 42 such that the first side face 33 is now the leading face and thus facing the second transport 38. In other words, the wrapped product 24 does not rotate relative to the centerlines 36, 40 in the most preferred embodiment.

The wrapped product 24 is then transported down the second transport 38 while the shrink wrap 22 along second and fourth side faces 35, 39 of the product 24 are simultaneously melted, i.e., cut, by the heated cutters 54, 68 on one side and the heated cutters 52, 66 on the other side. The second and fourth side faces 35, 39 flank the first side face 33 such that the cut 71 of the wrapping 22 now extends across the three connected side faces 33, 35, 39 of the prepackaged wrapped product 24.

The prepackaged product 24 continues down the second transport 38 and the vacuum retains the wrapping or shrink wrap 22 at the apertures 26 (see FIG. 8). Due to the vacuum and the shrink wrap 22 being cut along three connected side faces 33, 35, 39, the shrink wrap peals-off the prepackaged product 24 as the prepackaged product continues down the second transport 38. The suction hose 102 aligns with the shrink wrap 22 such that the shrink wrap 22 can be quickly removed from the prepackaged product 24 (see FIG. 7). When the operation is complete, the product 24 is free from the shrink wrap 22 and can be re-packaged as desired.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11, a second embodiment of a wrapping removal system 120 is illustrated wherein like elements to the first embodiment have like identifying numerals except with the summed addition of one-hundred. The system 120 utilizes cutters 152, 154, 162, 168 having cutting discs 170 that can be adjusting toward and away from respective transports 134, 138. Moreover, the cutters preferably have compression springs 92 that generally compress in a lateral direction 93 with respect to the transports 134, 138. This give or absorption minimizes potential damage to the wrapped product 124 when cutting and/or melting the wrapping.

Preferably, the disc 170 is heated by an electric heating element 76. The heating element 76 is located in a blind bore 78 orientated concentrically in the disc 170. The discs 170 preferably do not rotate but are mounted releasably to respective arms 80 of each cutter 152, 154, 162, 166, 168. Because the discs 170 do not rotate, the resultant increase in friction as the apex 174 slides across the wrapping 122 assists in the cutting. As the continuous apex 174 wears, the discs 170 can be loosened and rotated with respect to the arms 80 thereby exposing an unwarned portion of the apex 174. Alternatively, the disc 170 may be mounted rotatably to the arm 80 and about a rotation axis 72 orientated substantially perpendicular to the transports 134, 138. Although in this embodiment the disc 170 produces less friction for efficient cutting, it is less likely to snag upon the wrapped product 124 when cutting and will evenly wear around the entire circumference of the apex 174.

Preferably, the disc 170 is supported releasably by the radially extending arm 80 and various bushings and or washers 82 for reliable operation. The arm 80 is supported adjustably by a stationary support member 84 of each cutter 152, 154, 162, 166, 168. Preferably, a portion of the arm 80 extends into a channel 86 in the support member 84. Also located in the channel 86 and generally between an end 88 of the arm 80 and stop pins 90 of the member 84 is a compression spring 92. Spring 92, in conjunction with an adjustment knob 94, provides the ability to adjust the extension of the discs 170 into and out of the respective transports 134, 138 dependent upon the size of the wrapped product 124.

Referring to FIG. 12, a third embodiment of a wrapping removal system 220 is illustrated wherein like elements to the first embodiment have like identifying numerals except with the summed addition of two-hundred. The system 220 is similar to the system 20 of the first embodiment except that an oscillating or piston actuated moving device 104 of transport 238 is suspended from the frame 300. In operation, a cut is first created in the wrapping 222 at a side face 233 of the wrapped product 224, then an automated device 104 generally collects the wrapped product 224 from the first transport 234. The device 104 generally shoves the wrapped product 224 over the transport 238 and under a vacuum collector 298. As the device 104 shoves, the cut (not shown) in the wrapping 222 is enlarged and extended across the flanking side faces 235, 239. After the wrapping 222 is removed by the collector 298, device 104 preferably shoves the unwrapped product 224 onto a third transport 106 preferably having a moving belt 108. Preferably, the transport 234 moves the wrapped product 224 in a first direction 110, the device 104 of the transport 238 then moves the wrapped product 224 in a second direction 112 that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction 110, then the third transport 106 moves the unwrapped product 24 in a third direction 114 that may be substantially perpendicular to the second direction 112.

While the forms of the invention herein disclosed constitute a presently preferred embodiment, many others are possible. It is not intended herein to mention all the possible equivalent forms or ramification of the invention. It is understood that terms used herein are merely descriptive, rather than limiting, and that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. 

1. A package wrapping removal system for removing wrapping from a wrapped product comprising: a first transport for moving said wrapped product along a first centerline; a second transport for moving said wrapped product along a second centerline traversing said first centerline with said first and second transports defining a corner; a first cutter disposed at said corner and extending at least partially into said first and second transports for cutting said wrapping from said wrapped product along first and second side faces of said wrapped product; and a second cutter mounted to said second transport on an opposing side from said first cutter and extending at least partially into said second transport for cutting said wrapping from said wrapped product along a third side face of said wrapped product.
 2. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first side face is flanked by said second and third side faces of said wrapped product and a fourth side face of said wrapped product is orientated opposite said first side face.
 3. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 3 wherein said first cutter is constructed and arranged to cut said wrapping along said first side face when said wrapped product is moved along said first transport.
 4. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 3 wherein said first cutter is constructed and arranged to cut said wrapping along said second side face and said second cutter is constructed and arranged to cut said wrapping along said third side face when said wrapped product is moved along said second transport.
 5. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 1 further comprising a third cutter located adjacent to and outward from said first cutter with respect to said second centerline and in parallel with said first cutter along said first centerline.
 6. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 5 further comprising: a fourth cutter located adjacent to and radially outward from said first cutter with respect to said first centerline and in parallel with said first cutter along said second centerline; and a fifth cutter located adjacent to and outward from said second cutter with respect to said first centerline and in parallel with said second cutter along said second centerline.
 7. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 6 wherein said first, second, third, fourth and fifth cutters are heated and said wrapping is heat sensitive.
 8. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second cutters are heated and said wrapping is heat sensitive.
 9. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second cutters each have a rotational axis and a cutting disc rotatable about said rotational axis.
 10. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 2 wherein said cutters do not engage said wrapping at said fourth side face such that said wrapping at said fourth side face is not cut.
 11. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one vacuum aperture in said second transport for engaging said wrapping at a bottom of said wrapped product.
 12. The package wrapping removal system set forth in claim 11 further comprising a vacuum collector located above said second transport for collecting said wrapping after said wrapping is cut along said first, second, and third side faces.
 13. A package wrapping removal system for removing wrapping from a wrapped product comprising: at least one transport for moving said wrapped product; a plurality of cutters located along said at least one transport for cutting said wrapping only along three of four side faces of said wrapped product; at least one vacuum aperture in said at least one transport for engaging said wrapping at a bottom of said wrapped product; and a vacuum collector spaced above said at least one vacuum aperture for collecting said cut wrapping as one piece as said wrapped product moves along said at least one transport.
 14. A method of removing wrapping from a wrapped product with the wrapped product having a first side face and opposing second and third side faces flanking the first side face utilizing first and second cutters, the method comprising the steps of: moving said wrapped product along a first direction and against said first cutter for cutting said wrapping along said first side face of said wrapped product; positioning said wrapped product between said first cutter and said second cutter; moving said wrapped product along a second direction and between said first and second cutters for cutting said wrapping along said opposite second and third side faces of said wrapped product.
 15. The method set forth in claim 14 further comprising the steps of: positioning said wrapping located at a bottom of said wrapped product directly over at least one vacuum aperture; and pushing said wrapped product away from said at least one vacuum aperture as said wrapping remains with said at least one vacuum aperture.
 16. The method set forth in claim 15 further comprising the step of vacuuming said wrapping as one piece into a vacuum collector.
 17. The method set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of heating said first and second cutters prior to cutting.
 18. The method set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of rotating a cutting disc of said respective cutters directly against said wrapping as said wrapping is cut.
 19. The method set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of compressing a spring of said respective cutters against said wrapped product and during cutting. 